Features of the development of soft skills of students in higher education

Abstract

Over the last decade, research in education has emphasized the importance of developing a range of non-academic competencies, such as the ability to cooperate and build constructive relationships with others and solve problems, often referred to as unified skills or flexible skills. The group of soft skills includes a large group of skills that are not dependent on academic programmes, but have a major impact on the professional development of individuals and the successful development of solid vocational skills. Unlike academic knowledge, which is subject specific and formally assessed, soft skills are not directly dependent on curricula but develop within them. Thus, flexible skills are seen as skills that can be used in a wide range of work environments. Based on the above, it is necessary to identify the direction of activities in the educational process environment in higher education institution that will contribute to the comprehensive development of learners' flexible skills. The paper substantiates the priority of flexible skills development as a procedural feature of the educational process of the university. Research result. The development of learners' flexible skills within the educational process in the university is considered, on the one hand, as a component of academic disciplines, and on the other hand, as an independent process in order to develop the range of skills required for various activities. Thus, studying the problem of developing a set of flexible skills of university students, the technologies for the development of flexible skills are named, which will be the structural elements of the programme.